Unlock a BitLocker-protected drive

Applies to Windows 8.1

You can use BitLocker Drive Encryption to help protect your operating system drive (the drive where Windows is installed), a fixed data drive (such as an internal hard drive), or a removable data drive (such as a USB flash drive). The way you unlock an encrypted drive depends on two things:

What kind of drive it is.

What kind of unlock method you chose when you set up BitLocker on the drive.

If you've turned on BitLocker for your operating system drive, you'll be prompted to enter the BitLocker PIN or password, or insert the USB flash drive that contains your startup key, when you turn on your PC. You need to do this before you can sign in.

Open Computer by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering Computer in the search box, tapping or clicking Apps, and then tapping or clicking Computer.

Note

If you turn on BitLocker for your operating system drive, you can set a BitLocker-protected fixed data drive to automatically unlock when you start Windows.

Open BitLocker Drive Encryption by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering BitLocker in the search box, tapping or clicking Settings, and then tapping or clicking BitLocker Drive Encryption. Choose the drive you want to unlock automatically, and then tap or click Turn on auto-unlock. You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

Note

You can set a BitLocker-protected removable data drive to unlock automatically when you start Windows. Insert the removable drive you want to unlock automatically, tap or click More options, and then select the Automatically unlock on this PC check box. (You still need to unlock the drive a last time before auto-unlock takes effect.)

Notes

BitLocker Drive Encryption is only available in Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise editions.

You can temporarily suspend BitLocker protection (for example, to install new software that BitLocker might otherwise block), or you can turn off BitLocker, which decrypts the drive so that it's no longer protected. For more info, see Help protect your files with BitLocker.